Trashline Orbweaver

Description:

Cyclosa spiders are difficult, but not impossible, to identify to species level, if the spider can actually be seen. The problem is that Cyclosa spp. are experts in camouflage and concealment. In the case of this spider, I can say (with some confidence) that it is a Cyclosa based on the style of its web decoration and the slight glimpses of a leg or two. However, without seeing a little more of the cephalothorax or abdomen, a species identification would be pure speculation.

Habitat:

This Trashline Orbweaver was spotted in our backyard. Its web was moored on a bamboo trellis.

Notes:

The first photo shows the best view that I could get of the trashline and the irregular pattern of zigzag white silk which make up the typical Cyclosa web decoration. The second picture shows as much of the orb web as I could squeeze in. If you are interested, you can zoom in and see some detail of the orb. There are numerous small patches of damage. Some of these might have been caused by prey insects crashing into the web, but many will have been the result of leaf litter landing on the web and being collected by the spider to add to its decoration.